Kostanay Region (Kazakhstan) (AFP) – After a long journey, three Przewalski horses return to their native habitat in Kazakhstan — the first of 40 of the endangered species to be released in the vast Central Asian country over the next five years. “This is the moment we have been waiting for for a very long time,” says Albert Salemgareyev from the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan.
Oradour-sur-Glane (France) (AFP) – “Let us never forget the damage caused in Europe by nationalism and hatred!”, says German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier giving a speech in Oradour-sur-Glane in France, as governments in France and Germany have been weakened following a surge in far-right parties in the the EU vote.
Rome (AFP) – Far-right gains in EU elections have sent the bloc into turmoil and triggered a political earthquake in France, with President Emmanuel Macron calling snap legislative polls in a high-risk move. Although centrist mainstream parties kept an overall majority in the European Parliament, preliminary results of the vote sent Europe’s stock markets and the euro sliding.
Hong Kong (AFP) – The Darkness Fighters are Hong Kong’s only team that pairs visually impaired people with sighted volunteers to compete in the annual Dragon Boat Festival. The team was founded in 2018 and today has around 50 members — many of them retirees — with varying levels of eyesight and physical fitness.
Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukraine’s largest monument to communist leader Vladimir Lenin is being put up for sale by deputies of Zaporizhzhia’s City Council. The bronze sculpture’s proceeds will be donated to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
(AFP) – Israeli rescued hostage Noa Argamani is seen smiling and speaking on the phone with president Isaac Herzog, surrounded by family members, after Israeli forces say it has rescued four Hamas-held hostages from Gaza. Over 250 were taken on October 7, after Hamas’s unprecedented attack in Israel resulting in the deaths of 1,194 people, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel’s retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 36,600 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
Paris (AFP) – After being unveiled earlier in the day, the steel Olympic rings installed on the Eiffel Tower light up for the first time, as the countdown to Paris 2024 passes the 50-day mark.
Everest Base Camp (Nepal) (AFP) – Footage released by Chinese drone maker DJI shows it has completed the world’s first successful drone delivery tests on Mount Everest, Nepal. The heavy drone carried oxygen bottles and food from Everest base camp to Camp 1.
Tel Aviv (AFP) – Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari says its troops has rescued four Israeli hostages alive from Gaza after a “complex mission”. Over 250 were taken on October 7, after Hamas’s unprecedented attack in Israel resulting in the deaths of 1,194 people, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel’s retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 36,600 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
Kabul (AFP) – Just after sunrise on the Afghan day of rest, Friday, an unusual spectacle gathers hundreds in Kabul. Puff-chested goldfinches belting out in song are pitched against each other in an age-old pastime.
Moscow (AFP) – A Moscow court on June 7 ordered Laurent Vinatier, a French citizen accused of gathering Russian military information, to be held in pre-trial detention until at least August 5, in the latest case of a Western citizen being detained in Russia.
Bratislava (AFP) – Slovakia on Saturday kicked off the final two days of voting in EU-wide elections, under the shadow of last month’s shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico. The May 15 assassination attempt on Slovakia’s populist premier rocked his nation of 5.4 million and spread shockwaves across the EU. IMAGES
